A GEEK DADDY: Sharing a dad's adventures in parenting plus enjoying the geeky side of life

Monday, September 28, 2015

LEGOLAND Discovery Center coming to Michigan in Spring of 2016

A Geek Daddy was pleased to be a part of the groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the beginning of construction on LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan, a 32,000-square-foot indoor attraction featuring more than one million LEGO bricks and themed exhibits including a 4D cinema, two interactive rides, and a uniquely Michigan-themed MINILAND display, that will be located at Great Lakes Crossing in the city of Auburn Hills. Bertie, the LEGOLAND Discovery Center mascot, joined the fun when a large construction loader dumped 50,000 LEGO bricks for local dignitaries and school children to dig in to as they ceremonially welcomed the facility to the community. After checking out the layouts of the facility they had on display during the groundbreaking ceremony, I just have to say "Everything is Awesome!"

Opening in Spring 2016, the attraction will provide an immersive 2 to 3 hour LEGO experience for its visitors. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan will be the 8th LEGOLAND Discovery Center attraction within the United States and the 14th in the world. Aspects of the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan will include:

a 4D Cinema that takes 3D films featuring popular LEGO characters and adds some extra special effects like wind, rain, snow, and lightning to bring the experience to life.

Kingdom Quest is an interactive ride that has you jump into a chariot and use your laser to zap evil doers as you attempt to rescue a Princess and win the highest score. The better your aim the higher your score will be. Challenge your friends and family on who will achieve the highest ranking.

LEGO Racers: Build & Test lets you build your own vehicle and test it on a test track. Times are recorded to the hundredth of a second so it might be a close competition between friends on who has the bragging rights to claim the fastest LEGO racer.

LEGO Factory Tour provides a virtual reality experience that lets you discover how LEGO bricks are made to get their shape and color. It has you guide factory workers through each stage of the LEGO brick making process; mixing, heating, molding and decorating.

The LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan will also include a LEGO Duplo Village play area for guests under 5 years old, LEGO MINILAND depicting Michigan landmarks, Merlin's Apprentice Ride and a LEGO Master Builder Academy plus a Cafe and LEGOLAND Discovery Center Shop.

LEGOLAND is owned and operated by U.K.-based Merlin Entertainments, the world's second largest visitor attraction operator, which also recently opened and operates SEA LIFE Michigan at Great Lakes Crossing. Great Lakes Crossing is an outlet mall located 35 miles north of the city of Detroit conveniently off of the I-75 highway within Oakland County, Michigan. If your kids love LEGO building blocks (seriously what child doesn't?!) and are as excited as mine are about this brand new Metro Detroit attraction you can get updates about its opening while it is under construction by following @LDCMichigan on Twitter or liking its Facebook page.